*For '''1840, 1830,''' and '''1820''', Illinois has both a '''federal''' and a '''state''' census.[[Illinois 1855 State Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)|)]]

*For '''1840, 1830,''' and '''1820''', Illinois has both a '''federal''' and a '''state''' census.[[Illinois 1855 State Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)|)]]

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*'''Mike is messing up the page! Mwahahahahaha! 1810-1855 Index''' Territorial, state, and federal censuses have been indexed in one alphabetical sequence along with county election returns and other records. Records for the 1825, 1835, and 1845 state censuses of many counties are missing or incomplete. The Illinois State Archives has the original card index complete through 1855. A microfilm copy made before the index was completed is:

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*'''1810-1855 Index''' Territorial, state, and federal censuses have been indexed in one alphabetical sequence along with county election returns and other records. Records for the 1825, 1835, and 1845 state censuses of many counties are missing or incomplete. The Illinois State Archives has the original card index complete through 1855. A microfilm copy made before the index was completed is:

:''Name Index to Early Illinois Records'' (Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Archives, 1975). On 248 {{FHL|40879|item|disp=FHL films 1001592 (first of 248 films)}}. At the time the index was microfilmed, most of the indexing of the 1855 census had not been completed.

:''Name Index to Early Illinois Records'' (Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Archives, 1975). On 248 {{FHL|40879|item|disp=FHL films 1001592 (first of 248 films)}}. At the time the index was microfilmed, most of the indexing of the 1855 census had not been completed.

For 1840, 1830, and 1820, Illinois has both a federal and a state census.)

1810-1855 Index Territorial, state, and federal censuses have been indexed in one alphabetical sequence along with county election returns and other records. Records for the 1825, 1835, and 1845 state censuses of many counties are missing or incomplete. The Illinois State Archives has the original card index complete through 1855. A microfilm copy made before the index was completed is:

Name Index to Early Illinois Records (Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Archives, 1975). On 248 FHL films 1001592 (first of 248 films). At the time the index was microfilmed, most of the indexing of the 1855 census had not been completed.

Existing and lost censuses

Why use a census?

A well-indexed census is one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor's family lived and when they lived there. You can also use censuses to follow the changes in a family over time, and identify neighbors. These and other clues provided by censuses are important because they help find additional kinds of records about the family.

Sources and footnotes

↑ 1.01.11.2FamilySearch, a free online service of the Family History Library, including free images of many federal censuses, including an index of the 1880 federal census of the United States; connected with 1880 census images provided by Ancestry.com, a subscription site.

↑ 3.03.13.2HeritageQuest has arranged with many subscribing public libraries in the United States to allow users free access on home computers by means of their personal library card numbers. HeritageQuest provides images of all surviving 1790 to 1930 federal censuses, and indexes to many but not all of them.

↑ 4.04.14.2Fold3, formerly known as Footnote.com, a subscription site partnering with the National Archives and includes some federal censuses. Free access is available at many public libraries.

↑ 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.65.75.8Ancestry.com, a subscription site that provides online indexes and images to all surviving federal and many state census records, among other sources. They have three online editions: (1) an FHL edition free only at the Family History Library and a few Family History Centers, (2) a slightly smallerLibrary edition free only at some public libraries, and (3) a Home edition subscription service for individuals.

↑ 6.06.16.2Archives.com, a subscription site that provides online indexes and images to all surviving federal census records, among other sources.

↑ 7.07.17.2FamilyLink.com, a subscription site that provides online images (and some indexes) to all surviving federal and many state census records, among other sources.

↑ Illinois, Secretary of State, 1855 state census of Illinois (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1975; microreproduction of original records at the Illinois State Archives, Springfield, Illinois]][FHL Film 976178 item 11+].

↑ Illinois, Secretary of State, 1840 state census (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1976;Microfilm of original record in Springfield, Ill., Illinois State Archives)[FHL Film 1004694-95].